Module SSI2001 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
SSI2001: Learning from Work Experience in Social Sciences
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
This module aims to develop your personal management skills and experience of learning through work. You will be encouraged to research and reflect on a range of work-related ‘explorations’ - from the nature of an organisation and your role within it, to employment practices, self-appraisal and continuing professional development, linking this with your own personal development planning. The module allows you to fully explore the links between the skills developed and the knowledge and understanding gained from your degree discipline. By practising specific skills for employment the module aims to prepare you for the world of work beyond university and to increase your knowledge and understanding of a range of professions.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. 1. Demonstrate understanding of what your placement organisation does; how it is managed, the culture of the organisation and what might influence this. 2. 2. Demonstrate understanding of the experiential learning process and some ability to reflect on and evaluate learning from work experience. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Critically reflect on the relationship between the learning and skills developed in your discipline, with learning and skills developed through your work placement. 4. Systematically research the academic background to a key issue arising from your work placement. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 5. Identify the skills needed in relation to particular job/career opportunities. 6. Analyse your own personal management skills, identifying ways to improve through personal development planning. 7. Demonstrate ability to communicate and present yourself effectively in CVs, applications, presentations and interviews. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Preparing for your work placement
- Personal development planning
- Learning from experience
- Reflection, reflective writing and preparing to write critical logs
- An introduction to employment policies and practices.
- Values and professionalism in the workplace
- Personal Development and Academic Skills review
- Preparing for work after university
- Preparing for assessment
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 100 | 40 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 10 | 10 x 1 hour workshops |
| Placement | 40 | 40 hours work placement |
| Guided Independent Study | 10 | Reflective journal kept during work experience |
| Guided Independent Study | 20 | Preparation of tasks related to teaching and learning sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | 20 | Planning and preparation for work placement and work placement activities |
| Guided Independent Study | 50 | Completion of activities for assessment |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
Useful materials on many aspects of learning from experience are also available online at http://www.exeter.ac.uk/employability/
Other Learning Resources
Suggested journal resources include:
- Journal of Education and Work
- Work, Employment and Society
- Gender, Work and Organisation
- Reflective Practice
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description of a critical work incident and a plan for reflection | 500 words | 1,2,4,5 | Written |
| Personal action plan | Equivalent to 500 words | 5-6 | Written |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 0 | 40 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective logs | 60 | 2,250 words | 1-2, 4, 6 | Written feedback and grade |
| Individual presentation | 40 | 1,500 words, equivalent to 10 minutes in length | 1, 3-5, 7 | Written feedback and grade |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective logs | Reflective logs (2,250 words) | 1-2, 4, 6 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Individual presentation | Written script for a presentation (1500 words, equivalent to 10 minutes in length) | 1, 3-5, 7 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Bolton, G. and Delderfeld, R. (2018) Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development, 5th edn., Los Angeles: Sage.
Cascio, W. (2000). Managing a Virtual Workplace. The Academy of Management Executive (1993-2005), 14(3), 81-90.
Cottrell, S. (2015), Skills for Success: The Personal Development Planning Handbook. Palgrave Study Guides. London
Edgell, S., Gottfried, H. and Granter, E. (eds.) (2016) The SAGE Handbook of the Sociology of Work and Employment, London: Sage.
Fanthorne, C. (2004), Work Placements – A Survival Guide for Students. Palgrave Study Guides. Macmillan, London. Hatton, N. and Smith, D. (1995) Facilitating reflection: issues and research, Forum of education, 50, (1) 49-65.
Illeris, K. (2009) Contemporary theories of learning. London: Routledge.
Kolb, D. (2014) Experiential Learning: Experience as a Source of Learning and Development. New Jersey: Pearson Education.
Mehta, K. & Shah, V. (2019). Global Business: Virtual Workplaces and Collaborations. International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, 9(4).
Moon, J. (2006), Learning Journals: A handbook for reflective practice and professional development. Abingdon: Routledge.
Neugebauer, J. and Evans-Brain, J. (2016) Employability: Making the most of your career development. London: Sage Publications.
Noon, M., Blyton, P. and Morrell K. (2013) The Realities of Work: Experiencing Work and Employment in Contemporary Society, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
Schon, D. (1991). The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. Aldershot: Ashgate.
